Keyboard tone data transfer

Abstract

A method of generating a tone from a human interface device (HID) or keyboard (including a speaker) responsive to manipulation of a key on the HID is described. A key manipulation at the HID is detected and a keyboard tone usage corresponding to the detected key manipulation is determined. A tone is generated from the keyboard speaker responsive to the detected key manipulation and based on the keyboard tone usage. The keyboard tone usage specifies the volume, duration, and frequency of the generated tone Another aspect includes a method of configuring the keyboard to generate a tone responsive to manipulation of a key. A connected keyboard device is detected and a keyboard tone usage corresponding to the detected keyboard device is determined. The keyboard tone usage is stored on the keyboard device specifying the tone to be generated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of transmitting tones to a human interface device coupled via universal serial bus, the method comprising: 
 transmitting tone information using a keyboard tone usage.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tone information includes volume, duration, and frequency values.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the keyboard tone usage is a key click info usage.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the key click info usage is a collection of a frequency usage, a duration usage, and a volume usage.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 storing the transmitted key click info usage transmission at the human interface device.    
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 generating a tone at the human interface device based on the stored key click info usage.    
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the tone generation step is performed responsive to a user manipulating the human interface device.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the keyboard tone usage is an error tone usage.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the error tone usage is a collection of a frequency usage, a duration usage, and a volume usage.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 generating a tone at the human interface device based on the transmitted error tone usage.    
     
     
         11 . A method of generating a tone from a USB keyboard responsive to manipulation of a key on the keyboard, wherein the keyboard includes a speaker unit, the method comprising the following steps: 
 detecting a key manipulation at the keyboard;    determining a keyboard tone information corresponding to the detected key manipulation; and    generating a tone from the speaker unit responsive to the detected key manipulation and based on the keyboard tone information.    
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the keyboard tone information includes volume, frequency, and duration values.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the speaker unit includes a speaker controller and a speaker.  
     
     
         14 . A method of setting a USB keyboard to generate a tone responsive to manipulation of a key on the keyboard, wherein the keyboard includes a speaker unit, the method comprising the following steps: 
 detecting a connected keyboard having a speaker unit;    determining a keyboard tone usage corresponding to the detected keyboard; and    transmitting the keyboard tone usage to the keyboard.    
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the keyboard tone usage includes a volume usage, frequency usage, and duration usage.  
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the speaker unit includes a speaker controller and a speaker.  
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the keyboard tone usage is a key click info usage.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 storing the keyboard tone usage at the keyboard.    
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 responsive to a key manipulation on the keyboard, generating a tone based on the stored keyboard tone usage.    
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the keyboard tone usage is an error tone usage.  
     
     
         21 . A keyboard for generating a tone responsive to manipulation of a key on the keyboard, comprising: 
 a plurality of keys;    a programmable component responsive to key manipulation;    a data connection adapted to interface with a computer and pass keyboard tone usages; and    a speaker coupled to the programmable component driving a signal responsive to a key manipulation.    
     
     
         22 . The keyboard as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the data connection is a universal serial bus connection.  
     
     
         23 . The keyboard as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the programmable component is a field programmable gate array.  
     
     
         24 . The keyboard as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the programmable component stores keyboard tone usages.  
     
     
         25 . The keyboard as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the keyboard tone usage is one of a key click info usage and an error tone usage.  
     
     
         26 . The keyboard as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the keyboard tone usage includes volume, duration, and frequency values.  
     
     
         27 . A computer readable medium, comprising: 
 at least one sequence of machine executable instructions;    at least one keyboard tone usage;    a medium bearing the executable instructions in machine form and keyboard tone usage, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:    detect a connected keyboard device having a speaker;    determine a keyboard tone usage corresponding to the detected keyboard device; and    transmit the keyboard tone usage to the keyboard device.    
     
     
         28 . The computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the keyboard tone usage includes a volume usage, a duration usage, and a frequency usage.  
     
     
         29 . A computer system, comprising: 
 a processor;    a keyboard coupled to the processor and having a speaker and programmable component; and    a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the steps of:    determining keyboard identifying information;    determining a keyboard tone usage corresponding to the keyboard identifying information; and    transmitting the keyboard tone usage to the programmable component.    
     
     
         30 . The computer system as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the keyboard tone usage includes volume, duration, and frequency values.  
     
     
         31 . The computer system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the keyboard tone usage is one of a key click info usage and an error tone usage.  
     
     
         32 . The computer system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions causing the processor to perform the steps of: 
 storing the keyboard tone usage at the programmable component; and    responsive to manipulation of a key on the keyboard, generating a tone at the keyboard based on the stored keyboard tone usage.